So I did a reasonably strenuous but nonetheless beginner trail run this weekend: I ran the Big Schloss trail (this one, not this one). I did the 4.4 mile trail in exactly 60 minutes (exactly 30 minutes each way – very odd) and learned a few lessons which may be of interest to beginners.
First: HOLY JESUS FUCK, do not assume that downhill will be any easier than uphill. Yes, it’s all massive OMG-QUADS-ON-FIRE going up, but going down, it’s serious impact on your feet, ankles, and calves; and somewhat unexpectedly it seemed to require a huge amount of core tension. I know from experience hiking that downhills can be hard, but magnify that by several times over when trying to maintain a running pace.
Second: don’t be afraid to walk. Or, put another way, remember that this little hobby is considerably more risky than running on flat, groomed trails or roads. There’s obstacles galore: rocks, lose gravel, mud, roots, branches … If the terrain ahead looks potentially risky, slow down. On more than one occasion I stumbled and thought to myself, “had things gone ever-so-slightly worse, one or more of my feet would be pointing in the wrong direction”. Don’t forget that a wet rock often looks like a dry rock, a deeply set root like a loose stick, loose gravel like hard-packed gravel. Shit happens: be careful.
Third: Consider fueling. I brought along some Gu. I noshed a packet at midpoint and spent a couple minutes hydrating. It seems silly to consume something after only 2 miles (my regular warmup is a couple miles on the treadmill) but it helped. A packet’s only 100 calories and weighs next to nothing. If like me you’re still in a training/development mode, it’s nice to have handy if you feel like you need it.
Lastly: Pay attention around blind curves or when coming to rises/ridges. You’re making more noise than usual, you might freak people the fuck out.
